Girshefski obituaries, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

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Name, date of obit, date submitted, submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by:

Girshefski, Mary Jeanne, Sister    24 Jun 2008    Jul 2008    Jerry Nelson

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Obituary published in The Hammond Daily Star on:  6/24/2008

GIRSHEFSKI, SISTER MARY JEANNE
Sister Mary Jeanne Girshefski, O.P., age 81 years and in her 56th year of
religious profession, died on June 19. 2008 at 9:20 a.m. at Our Lady of
Wisdom Healthcare Center, 5600 General de Gaulle Drive, New Orleans, LA
Sister was born Shirley Mary Girshefski in New Orleans, Louisiana, daughter
of the late John Girshefski and Rosetta Fischer Girshefski, half sister of
the late Mrs. Ruth Burst, Mrs. Mae Norris, and Mrs. Ethel Richard, survived
by one sister, Jeanne G. Dunn, and nieces and nephews. Sister Mary Jeanne
received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Louisiana
State University, a Master's Degree in Secondary Administration and
Supervision and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from St.
Louis University.  After professing her vows in 1952, sister taught at St.
Peter in Reserve, St. Mary's Dominican College where she served as Chair of
the Education Department, and St. Anthony of Padua School in New Orleans.
For six years she served as the Aspiranture Directress in Rosaryville.
Sister Mary Jeanne was one of the three educators appointed in 1978 to
write Louisiana's regulations for implementing a federal law that required
schools to begin educating handicapped students to the best of each
student's ability.  She was appointed Assistant Director of Educational
programs in the Division of Special Education in the State Department of
Education for seven years. Sister served as Principal at Holy Ghost School
in Hammond, Louisiana and at St. Joseph's High School in Greenville,
Mississippi. In 1999, Sister Mary Jeanne was honored as the Nun of the Year
by the St. Dominic's Catholic Daughters of America, and she was the
outstanding volunteer honoree of the Women United for Civic and
Governmental Improvement.  For the past six years, she served on the Board
of Directors of the Southern Dominican Volunteers Program and is presently
a member of the Board of Trustees of Dominican Volunteers USA. She also
volunteered for the Special Olympics. She served on the Regional Transit
Authority (RTA) Advisory Committee, the Mayor's Commission for Persons with
Disabilities, the Louisiana State Use Council, the New Orleans Public
Schools Task Force, and Louisiana Employment Network. She served on the
Archbishop's Commission for Persons with Disabilities for a six year term
(1994-2000) when she rotated off the Commission.  At the time of her death,
Sister Mary Jeanne, was the Executive Director of Strive Incorporated,
managed Strive Center, a work program for persons with mental retardation;
Miller Manor, a group home for six ladies who are mentally retarded; and
Miller Action Center, an innovative recreational program for the
handicapped.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Henry's Church,
812 General Pershing Street on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.,
followed by interment in the Dominican Sisters Cemetery in Rosaryville,
Ponchatoula, Louisiana. A prayer service will be held on Tuesday, June 24,
2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Wisdom, 5600 General de Gaulle Drive, New
Orleans, LA and at 5:00 p.m. in the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse Chapel,
580 Broadway, New Orleans, LA.  Visitation will be on June 24 from 
3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Motherhouse Chapel and on June 25 from 
9:00 a.m. until Mass time at St. Henry's Church.  In lieu of flowers,
please send a donation to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 7300 St.
Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. Arrangements by Jacob Schoen and Son
Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA.

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